Private Richard SAILOR was born on November 2, 1920 on the White Earth Indian Reservation, Becker County, Minnesota.
Both of his parents were of Ojibwe Indian blood. His father was Frank William Sailor (Sho Ne Yah Wo Say), and his mother Lena Martin (Bah Gway Ke Gah Bow Eak).
His father Frank took the surname SAILOR when he joined the US Army in 1914-1918. Their traditional Ojibwe name was originally "Be-Gay" which means "Partridge". He was wounded and gassed on the French battlefield during the 1st World War.
Voluntered for paratroopers and attached to the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Richard SAILOR will take part to the Italian campaign, and will make the operational jump in the southern of France during Operation Dragoon. Member of the 3rd Battalion "I" Company, he will miss the drop zone with the comrades of outfit and will jump on the hill North East of town of Fayence about 15 miles north of his pre-designated drop Zone.
On August 22, the order was given to his company to move East and take the village of St Cézaire. Located on a hillside, the village overlooking the Siagne river valley in a dominant position, and the attack will have to be carried out from the bottom of the valley.
Durind the assault of that 22nd of august 1944, Richard SAILOR will be killed by mortar fire as he scaled the stepped terraces leading to St Cezaire during the attack.
His comrade Walter AMMERMON remembers: "I had one guy killed right behind me. He was an arm's distance from me, right squared behind me, and was wounded in the chest and the stomach by one of the mortars" ... "He was an indian boy and we called him Chief "
Extract from the book "Autopsy of a battle" - Jean-Loup GASSEND
He will died of his wounds and is burried at Breck Memorial Episcopal Cemetery
Ponsford, Becker County, Minnesota, USA.
This article is also a tribute to all the Natives American soldiers who fought and made the ultimate sacrifice of their lives for our freedom, on a land that was not theirs.
France will be forever grateful.
Many thanks to Tim FAIRBANKS for his help, who pays a heartfelt tribute to his ancestors of the White Earth tribe who fell on the battlefield.
Le Private Richard SAILOR est né le 2 novembre 1920 dans la réserve indienne de White Earth, Becker county, Minnesota.
Ses deux parents étaient de sang indien Ojibwe. Son père était Frank William Sailor ( Sho Ne Yah Wo Say ), et sa mère Lena Martin ( Bah Gway Ke Gah Bow Eak ).
Son père Frank prit le patronyme SAILOR lors de son engagement dans l'armée américaine en 1914-1918. Leur nom traditionnel Ojibwe était à l'origine "Be-Gay" qui signifie "Perdrix". Il fut blessé et gazé sur les champ de bataille français lors de la 1ere guerre mondiale.
Engagé dans le 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Richard SAILOR prendra part à la campagne d'Italie, et effectuera le saut opérationnel dans le sud de la France lors de l'opération Dragoon. Membre du 3rd Battalion "I" Company, par erreur de navigation, la US airforce manque la drop zone. Avec les camarades de son bataillon est largué sur les hauteurs du village de Fayence.
Le 22 Aôut, l'ordre est donné à sa compagnie de faire mouvement vers l'Est et prendre le village de St Cézaire. Situé à flanc de colline, le village surplombant la vallée de la Siagne à une position dominante, et l'attaque va devoir être effectuée par le bas de la vallée.
Richard SAILOR est mortellement blessé par un tir de mortier alors qu'il escalade les terrasses en escalier menant à St Cezaire lors de l'attaque.
Son camarade Walter AMMERMON se souvient : « On à eu un gars tué juste derrière moi. Il était à un pas juste derrière moi, et a été blessé à la poitrine et à l’estomac par l’un des mortiers »... « C’était un garçon d'origine indienne et nous l’appelions chef »
Extract from the book "Autopsy of a battle" - Jean-Loup GASSEND
Richard "Chef" SAILOR ne survivra pas à ses blessures. Il est inhumé au cimetière épiscopal "Breck Memorial" à
PONSFORD, Minnesota, États-Unis
POUR NE PAS OUBLIER : Cet article lui rend hommage mais aussi à tous les soldats Amérindiens qui se sont battus et ont payés de leur vie le prix de la liberté, sur un sol qui n'était pas le leur.
La France leur en sera reconnaissante à jamais.
Un grand merci à Tim FAIRBANKS, famille de Richard pour son aide, qui a de cesse aux Etats Unis de rendre hommage aux ancêtres de sa tribu "White Earth" tombés au champ d'honneur.
